The Type Of Bowl Matters For Keeping Your Fruit Fresh

If you tend to keep fresh fruit on display in a large bowl on your countertop, it can be quite a pretty presentation. However, while it can act as decor for your kitchen and add pops of color where they're needed, the type of bowl you use can determine the rate at which your fruit withers. That's right — the decorative bowl you picked out specifically for your fruit might be the reason you can't keep your fruit fresher for longer.

Fruit gets claustrophobic just like us, and it needs air circulation. Any bowl that prevents airflow will cause your fruit to decay. If you're working with a plastic or metal bowl, this is a no-no. These materials cause your fruit to sweat more frequently, leading to bacteria and mold growth. Therefore, ceramic or wire-mesh bowls are the best options, as this promotes air to surround each piece of fruit, essentially allowing it to breathe. 

And while it may be tempting to use a large statement bowl and fill it to the brim, this isn't the best idea, either. Even though fruit bowls don't always look right if they're not full, filling up a bowl leads to less breathing room. 

While picking out the right type of bowl is important, it's also crucial to clean your fruit bowl regularly. Doing so can prevent fruit flies and any unwanted bacteria growth. Ideally, you should thoroughly clean your fruit bowl, minus the fruit, once per week, wiping it completely dry before adding your produce back in. Any excess moisture gives bacteria a place to thrive.

Storing your fruit on the counter is like eye candy in a kitchen, but it can be tricky knowing which fruit actually stays fresh for longer when stored in the fridge. While more delicate fruits like grapes, berries, and cherries should be chilled, it may surprise you that apples, pineapple, watermelon, and citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes should also be chilled. These are usually the most vibrant part of a fruit bowl, but keeping them at room temperature causes them to dry out much quicker. Instead, when stocking your fruit bowl, it's best to purchase fruit when it's underripe and stick with the varieties that ripen faster at room temperature, such as mangoes, avocadoes, cantaloupe, apricots, peaches, pears, and nectarines.

Another big tip to keep in mind? Don't forget to monitor your fruit. Once your bowl has some perfectly ripe produce, move it to the fridge to slow the ripening process down.